Automatic and hand-operated apparatus for use in rotary type zigzag sewing machines



3,067,702 OPERATED APPARATUS FOR USE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 1962 SABURO SHIMADA AUTOMATIC AND HAND- IN ROTARY TYPE ZIGZAG SEWING MACHIN Filed June 10, 1959 INVENTOR. Saga/w cffiz'madw Dec. 11, 1962 SABURO SHIMADA 3,067,702

AUTOMATIC AND HAND-OPERATED APPARATUS FOR USE IN ROTARY TYPE ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

(520W JAM MS m Dec. 11, 1962 SABURO SHIMADA 3,067,702

. AUTOMATIC AND HAND-OPERATED APPARATUS FOR USE IN ROTARY TYPE ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllllll IHIHI IN Hill INVENTOR. 6M JAbr/uzdd/ W S. W

Dec. 11, 1962 SABURO SHIMADA 3,067,702

I AUTOMATIC AND HAND-OPERATED APPARATUS FOR USE IN ROTARY TYPE ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed June 10. 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Saga/w 5 W 5. WA

Dec. 11, 1962 SABURO AUTOMATIC AND HAND-OPE IN ROTARY TYPE ZIG Filed June 10, 1959 SHIMADA 3,067,702 RATED APPARATUS FOR USE ZAG SEWING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. SQ/Qrww W.

United States Patent 3,067,702 AUTOMATIC AND HAND-OPERATED APPARATUS FOR USE IN ROTARY TYPE ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Saburo Shirnada, Koganei-shi, Tokyo-t0, Japan, assignor to Riccar Sewing Machine Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, a corporation of .lapan Filed June 10, 1959, Ser. No. 819,431 Claims priority, application Japan Jan. 27, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 112-158) This invention relates to an automatic and hand-operated apparatus for use in rotary-type zigzag sewing machines characterized in that there is provided a rotary cam member having cam tracks on both sides and comprising short cylinders which are of gradually different diameters and which are joined together integrally. Sewing of patterns is carried out by turning a zigzag width dial knob in clockwise direction to release a locking device and then turning a selector dial to make a cam follower engage a cam track, said locking device at this time setting the cam member so that it will not shift. For sewing a different pattern in automatic operation, a zigzag width dial knob is turned to disengage the locking device and the selector dial is turned to make a selection on the rotary cam member, while for manual operation, contact between the rotary cam member and the follower is disconnected and the zigzag width dial knob is operated by hand to obtain zigzag stitches of varying width.

In the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of this invention is shown:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view which illustrates the operation of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the principal part of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of one part of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a locking mechanism;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a locking rod;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating in order the component parts of the principal part of the apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating in order the component parts of the zigzag width dial part;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view showing a part of the principal part of the apparatus; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective View of a rotary profiling member;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a drive mechanism for effecting zigzag sewing.

Description will now be made with reference to an embodiment of this invention as shown in the drawings. A zigzag width dial knob 1 fixed to a zigzag width dial shaft 6 is turned in the righthand direction as far as it will go, that is, said knob 1 is turned until the indicator 62 fixed to an indicator guide 57 points to FIGURE 5 of zigzag width dial plate 56, and this turns a zigzag width dial shaft crank 10 fixed to the zigzag width dial shaft 6 in the same direction. A selector stopper arm 9 is connected to the front plate 58 by the protruding pin portion of a spring 8 and loosely engages said shaft 6 (FIG. 9).

Thus, the selector stopper arm 9 is constantly being urged in the direction of the arrow by said spring 8. Further, said selector stopper arm 9 is connected to a selector stopper 11 by means of the pin H. Being urged in the same direction as the arm 9, the pawl 59 of the selector stop 11 engages a recess 60 in the periphery of a locking member 12 (FIGS. 3 to 7). The pin t of zigzag width dial shaft crank 10 which is fitted into the indicator guide 57 moves the indicator 62 (FIG. 9). When the indicator 62 points to 4, the pin 2. of the zigzag width dial shaft crank 10 touches the right leg of selector stopper arm 9,

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and when the indicator 62 is at a position nearer 5 while moving from 4 to 5, the right leg of the selector stopper arm 9 is pushed in the clockwise direction. Consequently, the arm 9 opposing the spring 8 turns to the right and as the selector stopper 11 is moved in the same direction, the pawl 59 of said selector stop 11 disengages the recess 60 of the selector locking member 12 (FIG. 6). At this time, by turning a selector dial 16 a selector set-ting pin 13 which is being urged by a selector setting spring 14 slips out of one of the penforations m and goes into the next perforation (FIG. 4, 8). A cam follower 25 having a contact part it which contacts a rotary cam member 52 for producing patterns is fitted between the legs of a guide 24 and is slidably mounted on a shaft 26 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 12). The follower 25 is urged upward from under the guide 24 by a spring 27 surrounding the shaft 26, and the bottom end of said shaft 26 is loosely received in a recess provided in the arm of the machine. The upper part of shaft 26 passes through a turnable arm 28 and is loosely received in an aperture provided in the bracket 29. The lower end of the spring 27 is sustained at the recess provided in the arm of the machine. The guide 24 is connected to a selector link 21 by a pivot screw 23, and said selector link 21 is in turn connected to a selector arm 19 by a pivot screw 22. 21 and 19 together form an obtuse angle (FIGS. 8, 12). A selector cam follower 17 and the selector arm 19 are secured by means of screws to a selector shaft 18 which is rotatably mounted to the arm of the machine (FIGS. 5, 8, 12). One end of said shaft 18 is mounted on a center pin 29 (FIG. 8). Thus, the spring 27 constantly urges the guide 24 upward whereby the selector link 21 is lifted up, the arm 19 connected thereto swings upward with the shaft 18 as an axis, and through said shaft 18 the selector cam follower 17 constantly engages the surface of the selector cam 12 (FIG. 10). As described above, when after turning the zigzag width dial knob 1 to the right as far as it will go to disengage the pawl 59 of the selector stop 11 the selector dial 16 is turned with cam 12 the selector cam follower 17 which is constantly in contact with the selector cam 12 moves and turns the shaft 18, and arm 19 secured to said shaft 18, and through the link 21 the guide 24 is moved vertically, and accordingly the follower 25 moves vertically across the cam tracks of cam 52. A pin 0 attached to the arm 28 engages the recess e of the follower 25, and said arm 28 is secured to the shaft 26. Into the recess 0 of arm 28 is inserted the stud d of an arm 30 movably mounted on the machine by a pivot screw 31 (FIGS. 4, 12). A connecting rod 32 is movably attached at one end to the stud f of the arm 30 by a pivot screw 33, and is movably connected at the opposite end to a zigzag width regulator 34 by a pivot screw 33. The zigzag width regulator 34 is movably mounted on the machine by a screw 35, and has an arm with a pin crossing a pin or arm 10 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 12. Accordingly, if the zigzag width dial knob 1 is turned to the right until the indicator points to 5, the arm k of the zigzag width regulator 34 swings to the left with 35 as a central axis, the connecting rod 32 moves to the left and the arm 30 swings to the left with 31 as its axis. Consequently, the arm 28 engaged with the stud d of the arm 30 swings to the right, and this motion moves follower 25 engaging the pin 0 which is integral with the arm 28, whereby the end part n of follower 25 disengages from the rotary cam member 52. A worm 48 mounted on shaft 47 transmits the rotary motion of shaft 47 to a worm gear 49. The worm gear 49 in turn transmits said motion to a cam shaft 51 fixed thereto. The rotary cam member 52 is secured to the shaft 51 by a lock nut 53. Thus, the rotary motion of the arm shaft rotates the rotary cam member 52.

cating motion to the arm 36.

As explained above, when the zigzag width dial knob is turned to the right as far as it will go, the pawl 59 of the selector stop 11 disengages the recess 60. While holding the knob in this position, a desired pattern of the selector dial patterns 61 indicated on the selector dial 16 is set to the indicator 1 of a selector plate 15 (FIGS. 3, 11). This turns the selector cam 12, and the selector cam follower 17 in contact therewith is held in a selected position, that is, the curved surface of the selector cam 12 corresponding to the patterns 61 of the selector dial selects the cam track of the rotary cam 52. This motion positions the follower 25 on the selected cam track of cam member 52 through the selector arm 19, selector link 21 and guide 24. The end part 11 of follower 25 is spaced from the surface of the rotary cam 52 at this time as the zigzag width dial knob 1 is being held turned to the right. When the zigzag width dial knob 1 is released, arm 9 will push stop 11 to the left and the pawl 59 will engage a recess of the selector locking member 12, thereby making the selector dial 16 and cam 12 immovable. At the same time the end part it of follower 25 engages with the selected cam track of cam 52 by the return motion of spring-loaded regulator 34, connecting rod 32, arm 36 and arm 28. The oscillatory motion of follower 25 is transmitted through members 28, 30, 32 to regulator 34. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 12, the zigzag width regulator 34 actuates the needle bar 43 through zigzag width rod 36, needle bar connecting rod stud 38, needle bar connecting rod 39 and needle bar supporter 41. The shuttle race 46 makes a reciprocating motion in axial direction by the swing motion of the zigzag width regulator 34 through vertical shaft crank 37, vertical shaft 44, shuttle race connecting rod 54 and oscillating shaft 45. As best seen in FIG. 12, a cylindrical roller 64 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 63 fixed to one end of a zigzag width rod 36 slides in a groove under the end of the zigzag width regulator 34, and a block 65 at the bottom part of said shaft 63 is provided so as to slide along a curved groove on the upper surface of a swingable guide lever 66. The zigzag width rod 36 is swingably mounted on pin 69 together with one end of an arm 37, which is mounted on the upper part of a vertical shaft 44, and a stud 38. The arm 36 oscillates on pin 69 by action of the zigzag width regulator 34. The guide lever 66 oscillates by means of a cam provided on the upper end of a shaft having a spiral gear 68 which meshes with a spiral gear 67 on the shaft 47, and transmits a recipro- When the center of the pin 63 which supports the roller 64 and block 65 is at the center of the oscillation of the guide lever 66, arm 36 does not oscillate. The motion increases as the center of the pin 63 departs from said center. Consequently, the arm 36 receives the motion of the zigzag width regulator and the oscillatory motion of the guide lever 66. The motion of arm 36 then oscillates arm 37 and vertical shaft 44 which is pivoted on a center 73, and a reciprocating motion is transmitted to a rod 54 which is movably mounted to an end of an arm 70 which is integrally mounted to the bottom part of the vertical shaft.

The rod 54 connects with a block 71 which fits on the shaft portion of a shuttle race 46, and transmits a reciprocating motion to an oscillating shaft 45 which is concentric with the shuttle race 46. Connected to the stud 38 is a connecting rod 39, the end of which is connected to a needle bar support 41 by means of a connecting pin 42. The needle bar support 41 oscillates on a center 72. As a result, an oscillatory motion is transmitted to a needle bar 43 which is inserted into the needle bar support 41 and synchronized with the reciprocating motion of the shuttle race 46, zigzag sewing is effected.

In case of sewing by manual operation, the zigzag width dial knob 1 is turned to the right as far as it will go and while maintaining said dial knob at this position, the selector dial 16 is turned until the letter M thereof sets upon the indicator l of the selector plate 15. At this time the end part n of the follower 25 drops into the recess 17 which does not constitute a part of the cam tracks of the rotary cam member 52. Since the rotary cam member does not function in this position, the zigzag width dial knob is operated manually and thus any desired zigzag pattern may be produced.

In the drawings, numeral 50 indicates a bushing on the shaft of cam member 52. As shown in FIG. 11, the cam member 52 for producing patterns comprises a plurality of coaxial cylinders which are of difierent diameters and are successively fitted together intimately and has cam tracks a, a, a, a, on both sides, and at its center is inserted a short cylinder which does not have a cam track on either side. It goes without saying that the rotary cam member 52 may be made of a single member instead of comprising a number of coaxial cylinders.

As explained hereinbefore, the selector stopper arm 9 operates in the direction of the arrow by the spring 8, and the pin t of arm 10 is positioned in the space E between both legs of said arm 9. The pawl 59' of the selector stopper 11 slips into the recess 60 of selector locking member 12, so that the arm 9 is held in this position. When the pin t of the member 10 moves the arm to the right, the pawl 59 of the selector stopper 1-1 diseng-ages the recess 60 of the selector looking member 12'. This takes place when the indicator 62. moves from 4 to 5 and at a position nearer 5. As this apparatus is so designed that the maximum lift of the rotary cam member 52 will not disengage the pawl 59 from the recess of selector locking wheel 12, the selector dial 16 will be immovable while the rotary cam member is working.

FIG. 9 shows the relation between the zigzag width dial knob 1 and parts related thereto. The zigzag width dial knob is used for changing the selector dial in automatic sewing and for effecting sewing by manual operation. The dial shaft 6 is rotat-ably mounted in the front plate 58. To the forward part of said shaft is mounted a knob portion which comprises a bushing 5, which supports a set lever 4 and a washer 3, secured to a dial base 2. The turning of this knob is transmitted via the dial shaft 6 to the selector stopper arm 9 and arm 10. The zigzag width dial knob 1 is first ofall turned and held at a position where the indicator 62 points to any desired position between 05. A pin B of the set lever 4 which inserts into a groove of the groove F of the dial base 2 which correspond to the scale of zigzag width dial plate 56 is released from the groove by pulling its knob in the direction of the arrow, and the knob is turned until the locking part A of set lever 4 comes in contact with the pin D secured to the front plate 58. When the knob of the set lever is released, the pin B will slip into a selected groove of the grooves F by the action of a Spring S mounted on the set lever, and the zigzag width dial knob will be set at the indicated position. This setting of the zigzag dial knob to any selected position from 0-5 sets the block 65 of the zigzag Width rod 36 connected to the zigzag width regulator to a position corresponding to 05 of the zigzag width dial plate, thereby enabling to sew a continuous zigzag pattern.

When sewing by automatic operation, the pin B of the set lever 4 is made to continuously engage the foremost left groove of the grooves F of dial base 2, namely the position where the indicator 62 points to zero. If, however, the indicator should be set to, say, 2 or 3 in this case, the pattern will merely get out of shape as it will begin from 2 or 3, but there will be no damage to the sewing machine. When the pin B of set lever 4 is moved, for example, from the foremost right groove to the foremost left groove of grooves F, the indicator moves from the position 5 to the position 0. At this time, the needle bar will produce zigzag widths corresponding to 0-5 when knob 1 is manually turned.

To effect sewing from automatic operation to manual operation, the zigzag width dial knob 1 is turned as far as it will go, and the selector dial 16 is turned so that the follower 25 opposes p which does not constitute a cam track of the rotary cam member 52, after which a pattern is sewn by operating the zigzag width dial knob at will. By moving the zigzag width dial knob and shifting the indicator to a figure from -5 of the zigzag width dial plate, it is possible to vary the zigzag width of the needle, the position 0 being straight line sewing and the position being the greatest oscillation of the needle. Therefore, by setting the pin B of the set lever 4 to the foremost left groove of the grooves F (position 0), a desired pattern can be sewn by manipulating the zig zag width dial knob 1 in the range of 0-5. Further, by setting the set lever 4 to the grooves of the dial base 2 corresponding to the numerals l, 2, 3 and 4, zigzag sewing of widths corresponding to the respective numeral can be effected. The manipulating range of zigzag width dial knob 1 is 1-5, 2-5, 3-5, and 4-5, respectively. Thus, by turning the zigzag width dial knob 1 to any desired position and setting the set lever and then manipulating the said dial knob 1, a desired pattern can be sewn. Further, when the zigzag width dial knob 1 is turned to position 5, the zigzag width regulator 34 oscillates by way of dial shaft 6 and arm 10 and comes to a stop by means of a stop 55. At this position when the pin B of set lever 4 engages the foremost right groove of dial base 2, the locking part A of the set lever 4 comes into contact with the pin D fixed to the front plate 58 and the dial knob 1 and zigzag width regulator become immovable, thereby enabling to obtain a zigzag sewing corresponding to numeral 5. Thus, by the insertion of the pin B of set lever 4 into groove F, sewing widths can be obtained assuredly. Manipulation is simple, and no changes in sewing width will occur by the set lever 4 getting out of place when sewing by manual operation as the pin B is set into the groove. Further, in case a sewer should erroneously set the set lever to a figure other than 0, that is l, 2, 3, 4 or 5 when sewing by automatic operation, the pattern produced will merely be out of shape and no breakdown will occur in the machine.

As described above, according to this invention, sewing of a selected pattern is simple as it is achieved by releasing the locking action of the selector stopper and setting a desired pattern indicated on the selector dial to the rotary profiling member by means of the rotary profiling member contact. While sewing the selected pattern, the selector dial is held in position, that is, a locking device has been provided. Switchover from automatic operation to manual operation or vice versa is simple. The rotary profiling member is suitable for accommodation in a narrow place such as in a sewing machine as it does not comprise discs having rugged guiding surfaces on their peripheries disposed in parallelism but is of a shape consisting of rugged surfaces on both sides of a cylinder. In addition, it is convenient as a very wide range of patterns can be produced. Also it is simple to change the rotary profiling member.

What I claim is:

I. In a zigzag sewing machine having a needle bar, in combination, a rotary cam member having an axis of rotation and a surface including a plurality of cam tracks respectively having different cam track patterns corresponding to different zigzag stitch patterns, said surface further including a recessed circular guide track, said tracks being concentric with said axis; cam follower means cooperating with said cam member; means supporting said cam follower means for movement between a plurality of positions located opposite different tracks of said tracks, and for turning movement so that said cam follower means oscillates when engaging one of said cam tracks, and does not oscillate when engaging said recessed circular guide track in a terminal turned position; selector means connected to said cam follower means for shifting the same between said positions; locking means for locking said cam follower means in each of said positions; a driven member rockable about a pivot axis and having a guide means performing an angular movement; turnable regulator means including a first part operatively connected to said cam follower means and a second part including a slide guided in said guide means so that said slide performs different oscillations along said guide means toward and away from said pivot axis of said driven rockable member when said cam follower means is osoillated by different cam tracks; a manually operated stitch width adjustment member operatively connected to said regulator means for turning the same so that said slide can be manually moved along said guide means to positions differently spaced from said pivot axis when said cam follower means is located opposite said recessed guide track, said adjustment member being operatively connected to said locking means to release the same when turned to a predetermined position so that said selector means can be operated for shifting and setting said cam follower means; and linkage means for connecting said slide with the needle bar of the sewing machine whereby different stitch patterns are produced by said driven rockable member when said cam follower means is placed on different cam tracks of said cam tracks, and whereby a zigzag stitch of uni-form width is produced when said cam follower means engages said guide track, and whereby the width of the zigzag stitch produced when said cam follower means engages said guide track, can be varied by operation of said adjustment member.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said selector means include a turnable selector cam, a cam follower cooperating with said cam and being operatively connected to said cam follower means, and a selector knob connected to said cam for turning the same between different positions in which said cam follower is displaced to shift said cam follower means between positions located opposite different tracks of said cam member, said locking means including a locking member secured to said selector cam for turning movement therewith, and a locking pawl cooperating with said locking member for locking the same and thereby said cam follower means in a selected position; and means operatively connecting said locking pawl with said adjustment member so that said locking pawl releases said locking member in a selected position of said adjustment member permitting turning of said selector knob and setting of said cam follower means to a selected position.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said adjusting member is operatively connected to said regulator means for turning the same to a releasing position in which said cam follower means is retracted from said surface of said cam member to permit shifting across said tracks, said regulator means assuming said releasing position when said adjustment member is in said selected position.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said adjustment member includes a first arm having a coupling pin, and a second arm operatively connected to said locking pawl for releasing the same in a selected position of said adjusting member, and wherein said turnable regulator means has a third part including a coupling pin crossing said first mentioned coupling pin so that said regulator means is turned when said adjustment member is turned.

5. In a zigzag sewing machine having a needle bar, in combination, a rotary cam member having an axis of rotation and a surface including a plurality of cam tracks respectively having different cam track patterns corresponding to diflferent zigzag stitch patterns; cam follower means cooperating with said cam member; means supporting said cam follower means for movement between an inoperative position and a plurality of positions located opposite different tracks of said tracks, and for turning movement so that said cam' follower means oscillates when engaging one of said cam tracks; selector means connected to said cam follower means for shifting I the same between said positions; locking means for-locking said cam follower means in each of said positions thereof; a driven member rockable about a pivot axis and having a guide means performing an angular movement; turnable regulator means including a first part operatively connected to said cam follower means and a second part including a slide guided in said guide means so that said slide performs different oscillations along said guide means toward and away from said pivot axis of said driven rockable member when said cam follower means is oscillated by different cam tracks; a manually operated stitch width adjustment member operatively connected to said regulator means for turning the same so that said slide can be manually moved along said guide means to positions differently spaced from said pivot axis when said cam follower means is in said inoperative position, said adjustment member being operatively connected to said locking means to release the same when said adjustment member is turned to a releasing position so that said selector means can be operated for shifting and setting said cam follower means when said adjustment member is held in said releasing position; and linkage means for connecting said slide with the needle bar of the sewing machine whereby different stitch patterns are produced by said driven rockable member 2 5 when said cam follower means is placed on different earn tracks of said cam member, and whereby a zigzag stitch of uniform width is produced when said cam follower means is in said inoperative position, and whereby the width of the zigzag stitch can be varied by operation of said adjustment member when said cam follower means is in said inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,649 Scarpa July 27, 1954 2,755,754 Urscheller July 24, 1956 2,832,302 Gegauf Apr. 29, 1958 2,854,935 Benink et al. Oct. 7, 1958 2,900,937 Gegauf Aug. 25, 1959 2,905,119 Bono Sept. 22, 1959 2,966,868 Theenhausen et al Jan. 3, 1961 2,971,482 Koike Feb. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 300,900 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1954 543,731 Italy Mar. 24, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES German application N12,158, printed Oct. 31, 1956 (KL52a901). 

